What is C++?
Released in 1985, C++ is an object-oriented programming
language created by Bjarne Stroustrup. C++ maintains
almost all aspects of the C language, while simplifying
memory management and adding several features -
including a new datatype known as a class (you will
learn more about these later) - to allow object-oriented
programming. C++ maintains the features of C which allowed
for low-level memory access but also gives the programmer
new tools to simplify memory management.
What is C++ used for?
C++ is a powerful general-purpose programming language.
It can be used to create small programs or large
applications.It can be used to make CGI scripts or
console-only DOS programs.C++ allows you to create programs
to do almost anything you need to do. The creator of C++,
Bjarne Stroustrup, has put together
a partial list of applications written in C++.
What is Object-Oriented Programming?
Object oriented programming is essentially building a
program around self-contained collections of data
and code to modify that data; this programming model
is in contrast to a model that uses function that act
on data scattered throughout a program. Object-oriented
programming (or coding, as programming is commonly referred
to) is an organizational style, but it helps programmers
create reusable code because the code to do a specific thing
is entirely contained within a single section of code, and
to use the code to perform tasks - for instance,creating a
menu - involves using only a small number of functions
to access the internals of the class. Think of it as a black box
that can be easily carried from place to place, and that performs
complex actions simply at the press of a button: for instance, a
microwave lets you heat food for a specified time limit - say, two
minutes - by typing in the time and pressing the heat button. You
do not need to know how the microwave operates or why the physics
works. In the same way that self-contained appliances simplify life
for the consumer, object-oriented programming simplifies the transfer
of source code from one program to another program by encapsulating
it - putting it all in one place.
What do you need to program in C or C++?
In order to make usable programs in C or C++, you will need
a compiler. A compiler converts source code - the actual
instructions typed by the programmer - into an executable
file. Numerous compilers are available for C and C++.
Listed on the sidebar are several pages with information
on specific compilers. For beginners, Bloodshed Dev,
which uses a Windows interface, is a free and
easy-to-use compiler.
How do you learn C++?
No special knowledge is needed to learn C++, and if you
are an independent learner, you can probably learn C++
from online tutorials or from books. There are plenty
of free tutorials online, including the one on this site
- one which requires no prior programming experience.
You can also pick out programming books from our
recommendations.
While reading a tutorial or a book, it is often helpful
to type - not copy and paste (even if you can!) - the
code into the compiler and run it. Typing it yourself
will help you to get used to the typical typing errors
that cause problems and it will force you to pay attention
to the details of programming syntax. Typing your program
will also familiarize you with the general structure of
programs and with the use of common commands. After
running an example program - and after making certain
that you understand how it works - you should experiment
with it: play with the program and test your own ideas.
By seeing which modifications cause problems and which
sections of the code are most important to the function
of the program, you should learn quite a bit about programming.
